Planetoktonos by DEPHOSPHORUS
Greek forward-thinking grinders DEPHOSPHORUS return with their fifth album, “Planetoktonos”.
DEPHOSPHORUS aims to expand listeners’ consciousness, fostering a vision of a sustainable future where humanity not only survives but thrives in harmony with its biosphere - and even with AI. Much like the anarchic utopia imagined by Iain M. Banks in The Culture books, this future is one where technology and humanity coexist symbiotically.
Their latest effort, “Planetoktonos”, is the band’s fifth full-length release, a ferocious collection of 9 cosmic, menacing tracks that pay tribute to the energy and dynamics of trailblazing acts such as Anodyne, Nasum, Playing Enemy, Breach, Knut, Leviathan and Bolt Thrower.
“Planetoktonos” - a Greek word coined by the band, roughly translating to “Planetkiller”- brings DEPHOSPHORUS closer than ever to their ideal sound. Mindfully forged in the positive atmosphere of Ignite Studio, a rising cornerstone of the local underground scene (home to acts like Antimob, Embrace Of Thorns and Chain Cult), the album was mastered by sonic guru James Plotkin (OLD, Khanate), ensuring every detail hits with impact.
Psychedelic layers are woven into the album’s fabric thanks to electronics mastermind Miltos Schimatariotis, a long- term collaborator and unofficial fifth member of the band. Schimatariotis, owner of Northside Studio, has been instrumental in shaping previous releases such as “Night Sky Transform”, “Ravenous Solemnit” and their collaboration LP with Haapoja.
As always, DEPHOSPHORUS explores science fiction and cosmology through an existential and political lens in both the lyrics and aesthetics of “Planetoktonos”. Several tracks, along with the album’s title and artwork - designed by Graphic No Jutsu (see Planet Of Zeus, Nightrage, etc.) - are inspired by The Expanse novel series by James S.A. Corey, a near-future universe where humanity has colonized the Solar System but faces the unknown consequences of encountering alien intelligence and technology. Other tracks delve into reflections on cosmologic and existential themes, spanning Dyson spheres and the persistence of life to the toxicity of defeatism and the looming threats of rogue AI or superintelligence.
“Planetoktonos” delivers a boundary-pushing sonic journey, sparking the imagination and inviting listeners to explore new dimensions of thought and sound.
Tracklist
| 1. | Living in a Metastable Universe | 3:05 |
| 2. | Hunting for Dyson Spheres | 4:20 |
| 3. | Pale Veins | 3:07 |
| 4. | After the Holocaust | 2:33 |
| 5. | The Triumph of Science and Reason | 1:51 |
| 6. | The Kinetics of a Superintelligence Explosion | 2:09 |
| 7. | Planetoktonos | 3:00 |
| 8. | Calculating Infinity | 3:27 |
| 9. | Eternal Bloom | 4:26 |
